Description
Object description
British aircraftwoman and NCO served with Women's Auxiliary Air Force with No 18 Balloon Centre, RAF in GB, 6/1940-5/1942; section officer served with Women's Auxiliary Air Force at Eastern Command in GB, 6/1942-10/1943; served with Headquarters, Mediterranean Allied Air Forces, Algiers, French Algeria and Headquarters, Mediterranean Allied Coastal Air Force, Caserta, Italy, 4/1944-12/1944; served with Air Headquarters Malta, RAF on Malta, 1/1945-5/1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background in GB and France, 1918-1939: adoption with twelve others by wealthy family; comfortable life style; education; attitude towards adoption; activities with Girl Guides Association; knowledge of economic problems and strikes, 1920s; attitude towards boarding school life; quality of education; attitude towards leaving school. basic training as nurse; placement at eye hospital; opinion of Matrons; leaving nursing due to medical problems.
REEL 2 Continues: holidays to Europe, 1930s; period in France looking after children with tuberculosis limbs; social life; duties working at school, Malmesbury; attitude of employers towards war; reaction to declaration of Second World War; decision to join Women's Auxiliary Air Force. Recollections of enlistment and training with Women's Auxiliary Air Force in GB, 4/1940-6/1940: reaction of family to her joining Women's Auxiliary Air Force; recruitment centre at RAF West Drayton; accommodation; issue of uniform and kit; daily routine; class backgrounds of new recruits; attitude of men towards Women's Auxiliary Air Force.
REEL 3 Continues: barrack inspection; drilling; story of morning parade; food rations; kit inspection; role of corporal in charge of hut; pay day; aspects of basic training; question of discipline and punishment; hygiene lessons; assignment to balloon work. Recollections of posting to No 18 Balloon Centre, RAF at Bishopbriggs, Glasgow, GB, 6/1940-5/1942: accommodation; facilities and provision of sanitary towels; checking balloons for holes; relations between men and women at camp; danger of paint fumes; relations with local people.
REEL 4 Continues: gas precautions training at RAF West Drayton; education lectures at RAF West Drayton; relations between male and female personnel; social life; attitude towards officers; root marching; promotion to Leading Aircraftwoman; accommodation; food rations; social life; morale; entertainment; decision to apply for a commission. Aspects of commissioning and training as section officer with Women's Auxiliary Air Force in GB, 5/1942-6/1942: interview; code and cipher course at Oxford.
REEL 5 Continues: code machines; secrecy surrounding work; uniform; administration training; leadership training; attitude towards her officer status. Recollections of period as officer with Women's Auxiliary Air Force at East Command, Skegness, GB, 6/1942-10/1943: duties as Code and Cipher Officer; exercise to test Eastern Command defences; description of headquarters; billet; duties; carrying secret material to London for destruction. Recollections of period as officer with Royal Air Force Records Office in Gloucester, GB, 1943: duties deciphering names of those killed/missing in action; billet in hotel; duties inspecting and checking welfare of Women's Auxiliary Air Force personnel under her command.
REEL 6 Continues: attending administration course at Windermere, 1/1944. Recollections of period as officer with Headquarters, Mediterranean Allied Air Forces, Algiers, French Algeria, 1944: issue of overseas uniform and kit; attitude towards posting abroad; journey by ship; life on board ship; first impressions of Algiers, 4/1944; reaction of local people to Women's Auxiliary Air Force officers; duties as Code and Cipher officer; description of headquarters; coping with insect life; pay.
REEL 7 Continues: Recollections of period as officer with Headquarters, Mediterranean Allied Coastal Air Force, Caserta, Italy, 1944: mess life; reading and censoring letters; mess life; duties decoding incoming messages; equipment; washing facilities; relations with Americans; description of headquarters at Palace of Caserta; relations with Italian people.
REEL 8 Continues: relations with Americans at Caserta; flight in Westland Lysander; social life. Aspects of period as officer with Women's Auxiliary Air Force at Air Headquarters Malta, RAF on Malta, 1/1945-5/1945: posting to Malta, 1/1945; coding message from Yalta Conference, Soviet Union, 2/1945; VE day, 8/5/1945; relations with local population. Recollections of period as officer with Women's Auxiliary Air Force in Caserta, Italy, 5/1945-1/1946: lack of work; social life; attitude towards Labour Party victory in 1945 General Election; cigarette ration; use of cigarettes as currency; demobilisation at RAF Wilmslow, GB, 1/1946; attitude to service with Women's Auxiliary Air Force during Second World War.